Export Navigator

What Export Navigator does

Export Navigator is a government-funded export advisory program delivered by the Community Futures Development Association of B.C. (a non-profit) that helps British Columbia-based small and medium-sized businesses expand beyond the provincial market. Founded in 2016 as a four-community pilot, the program achieved fully funded provincial status in April 2019 and is jointly funded by the Government of Canada (through PacifiCan) and the Province of British Columbia (through the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth). The core service is free one-on-one advisory, with eligible B.C. businesses completing an online intake form and being matched with one of approximately 14+ regional Export Advisors positioned across all BC regions, including Indigenous-owned businesses receiving specialized support.

The product portfolio consists of the Export Navigator Program (core free one-on-one advisory), the Technical Specialist Pilot Program (matching clients with a network of professional service providers in international legal, accounting, logistics, marketing, and regulatory compliance), the CUSMA Compliance Advisory Services Initiative (CCASI), self-paced e-courses delivered via a learning management system (Export Essentials, Preparing to Export Agri-foods, Exporting Your Services), and a Tariff Resources hub. The program is not a technology company; its digital surface is the website intake form, the LMS-hosted e-courses, and content marketing (blog, newsletter, Instagram). There is no AI/ML component.

The business model is 100% government grant funding channeled through Community Futures BC; the program charges no fees to B.C. businesses. Go-to-market is sales-led via a website "Find an Advisor" intake form, supported by content marketing, events, and referrals from an ecosystem of partners including Community Futures offices, BC Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Centre Vancouver, EDC, BDC, and Global Affairs Canada. In April 2025, Export Navigator launched and now chairs the B.C. Trade Alliance, a coalition of 11 federal, provincial, and non-profit partners convened to coordinate B.C. export support. Core team is approximately 22 staff, led by Director Kath Britton.

Name

Export Navigator

Legal name

Community Futures Development Association of B.C.

Website

https://exportnavigator.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Export Navigator is a free, government-funded export advisory program delivered by Community Futures BC that pairs British Columbia small and medium-sized businesses with regional Export Advisors for one-on-one export guidance, supplemented by e-courses and a Technical Specialist Pilot Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Export Advisory Services

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tourism Trade & Services Exports Development (BPADAMAO)

Keywords

• Export advisory services
• Trade consulting
• Market entry support
• Export education
• Government trade programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Export Navigator is a free program for B.C. businesses, fully funded by the Government of Canada (through PacifiCan) and the Province of British Columbia (through the B.C. Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth). The program is delivered through Community Futures BC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Export Navigator is a free, government-funded export advisory program that pairs B.C. small and medium-sized businesses with regional Export Advisors who provide one-on-one guidance on export planning, market entry strategy, regulatory compliance, and connecting with international buyers and distributors. The program is delivered by Community Futures BC and supplemented by self-paced e-courses, a Technical Specialist Pilot Program providing access to specialized professional services, and a tariff resource hub.

Product overview

Export Navigator is a government-funded export advisory and education program (not a traditional software product) that helps B.C. businesses expand beyond provincial borders. The core offering is the Export Navigator Program, which provides free one-on-one advisory services through community-based Export Advisors. This is supplemented by educational e-courses including Export Essentials, Preparing to Export Agri-foods, and Exporting Your Services. The Technical Specialist Pilot Program extends support by matching clients with professional service providers for specialized export needs. Additional resources include Tariff Resources and an Export Resource Directory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Technical Specialist Pilot Program: Program that pairs eligible businesses with a network of professional service providers to help overcome barriers to becoming export ready.

Products and services

• Export Navigator Program A free one-on-one export advisory service that pairs B.C. businesses with community-based advisors who provide tailored guidance on export planning, market entry, regulatory compliance, trade documentation, and growth strategies beyond the province.
• Technical Specialist Pilot Program A program that pairs eligible Export Navigator clients with a network of professional service providers offering expertise in international legal services, accounting, logistics, marketing, market research, e-commerce, and regulatory compliance to help overcome barriers to becoming export ready.
• Export Essentials e-course A free introductory e-course providing an overview of the export process, explaining key concepts and outlining steps to grow a business beyond B.C. Takes 60-90 minutes to complete.
• Exporting Your Services e-course An e-course providing insight into exporting services, covering topics relevant to tourism, professional services, and other service-based exports.
• Preparing to Export Agri-foods e-course An e-course focused on preparing agri-food businesses for exporting, including 3 lessons with printable handouts and quizzes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Businesses report successful export expansion to new markets including US, UK, Europe, Asia, Australia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• B.C. Trade AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Launched April 2025, chaired by Export Navigator. Brings together government and non-profit partners including Agriculture & Agrifood Canada, BC Chamber of Commerce, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture & Food, BDC, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Community Futures BC, Export Development Canada, Global Affairs Canada, Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth, PacifiCan, WeBC, World Trade Centre Vancouver. Objectives include identifying barriers to exporting, sharing best practices, and promoting BC exports.
• Community Futures BCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrimary delivery partner for the Export Navigator program. Community Futures BC and its regional offices (including Alberni-Clayoquot, Central Kootenay, Fraser Fort George, Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, Pacific Northwest, Peace Liard) deliver export advisory services to businesses throughout BC.
• Agriculture & Agrifood CanadaminorOthersMember of B.C. Trade Alliance, providing agricultural trade expertise and resources.
• BC Chamber of CommerceminorOthersMember of B.C. Trade Alliance, supporting business networking and export ecosystem.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)minorOthersMember of B.C. Trade Alliance, providing financing and advisory services for exporters.
• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)minorOthersMember of B.C. Trade Alliance, supporting manufacturing and export capabilities.
• Export Development Canada (EDC)minorOthersMember of B.C. Trade Alliance, providing export financing and risk management resources.
• Global Affairs Canada (GAC)minorOthersMember of B.C. Trade Alliance, providing trade policy and international trade information.
• World Trade Centre (WTC) VancouverminorOthersMember of B.C. Trade Alliance, providing trade training and networking programs like Trade Accelerator Program.
• Technical Specialists NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of professional service providers including international lawyers, accountants, logistics consultants, marketing experts, regulatory compliance specialists matched with Export Navigator clients through the Technical Specialist Pilot Program. Specialists apply through an Expression of Interest process.
• Bank of CanadaminorOthersTariff resource partner providing analysis on trade conflict and buy Canada movements.
• Canadian Chamber of CommerceminorOthersTariff resource partner providing Canada-U.S. Trade Tracker tool.
• Export Development Canada (EDC)minorOthersTariff resource partner providing EDC Tariffs resources and US market intelligence.
• Global Affairs CanadaminorOthersTariff resource partner providing tariffs, rules & regulations information.
• Pacific Customs Brokers (PCB)minorOthersTariff resource partner providing customs and duty calculator, tariff FAQs, and US/CA Trade Action Hotline.
• Tariff FinderminorOthersTariff resource partner providing tariff finder tool for businesses.
• Startup CanadaminorOthersTariff resource partner providing Tariff Toolkit for small businesses.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• World Trade Centre Toronto (Trade Accelerator Program): Operates a similar Trade Accelerator Program in Ontario, providing cohort-based export readiness education. A near-direct functional peer serving a different provincial geography.
• Alberta Trade and Export Growth (ATEG): Provincial government-affiliated program supporting Alberta-based exporters with trade advisory and market intelligence. Comparable provincial-scale export support mandate in a neighboring jurisdiction.
• Ontario Exports: Provincial export support portal and advisory offering for Ontario businesses. Closest direct functional analog to Export Navigator at scale in another Canadian province.

Broad incumbents

• Export Development Canada (EDC): Canada's federal export credit agency providing financing, insurance, and market intelligence to Canadian exporters. Operates nationally as a broad incumbent in the same export support category, with overlapping educational resources and tariff guidance.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Federal Crown corporation offering financing and advisory services to Canadian SMBs, including export-focused programming. Provides overlapping SME export advisory capabilities as part of a broader mandate.
• Trade Commissioner Service of Canada (Global Affairs Canada): Federal government network supporting Canadian exporters with international market expertise, trade missions, and on-the-ground representation. Overlaps with Export Navigator's market entry support at a national scale.
• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME): National industry association providing export programming and advocacy for Canadian manufacturers and exporters. Overlaps with Export Navigator's mandate to support BC exporters in industrial and manufacturing sectors.
• BDC Export Advisory Services: BDC's dedicated export advisory practice offers one-on-one guidance and tools for SMB exporters, closely mirroring Export Navigator's core service of matching businesses with export advisors.

Direct peers

• World Trade Centre Vancouver: Provides trade training, networking, and the Trade Accelerator Program to BC-based businesses, directly overlapping with Export Navigator's advisory and education offerings. Both are BC-focused trade support organizations and are co-members of the B.C. Trade Alliance.
• Community Futures British Columbia: The parent delivery network for Export Navigator, operating regional offices across BC providing small business services including export advisory. Same underlying mission and operational footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/exportnavigator
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exportnavigatorbc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Export Navigator